As word spreads about friction between Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj on the set of "American Idol," we at Pop & Hiss find ourselves wondering what ever happened to Kara DioGuardi, the singer and pop songwriter who occupied a judge's seat in 2009 and 2010. (We're not alone, either: Music-industry gadfly Bob Lefsetz recently included DioGuardi alongside Macaulay Culkin and Jimmy Ray in a missive titled "Where Are They Now?")

On Thursday morning, our in box provided the answer: DioGuardi -- who prior to "Idol" penned big singles for Ashlee Simpson and Christina Aguilera, among many others -- has joined the academy, teaching a class at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Called Hit Songwriting, the course currently counts 27 students, according to a release from the school.

"I took a position at Berklee because I want to help educate and guide songwriters/artists in the early part of their careers,” DioGuardi said in the statement. "I love working with promising talent, and I aim to share my experiences with my students so as to better prepare them creatively and emotionally for an industry fraught with change and competition."

"What Kara is doing at Berklee is important because she is simulating the most popular songwriting model our students will encounter when they leave campus: working in small teams that combine writers and producers in real time," added Berklee President Roger H. Brown. "Kara has obviously thrived as a writer, and she is helping our students get ready for action from day one. She is also an incredibly dedicated and passionate teacher who holds herself to the highest standards."

So far, at least, the scholarly life appears to agree with DioGuardi. Last month, she tweeted: "I love teaching at Berklee," mere days before urging her followers to "check out great deals on beauty products handpicked by me." Find a reminder of the good old days below.